It is so hard being a young woman in society today. With Victoria's Secret models and actresses shoving their perfect lives and perfect bodies in our faces, it is so hard to look in the mirror and say, "You are beautiful and worth the world." So, here are some things to remember whenever you just can't seem to love yourself.
1. You are unique.
There are billions of people on this planet and only one you! Your fingerprints are one-of-a-kind. How could you be worthless if there is only one you? God made you for a reason.
2. You are beautiful.
I know it is cliche, but beauty really is in the eye of the beholder. It does not matter how much you weigh, how much makeup you wear, or even how you dress; you are you and that is what makes you beautiful. You do not need to pretend to be something you are not for other people. Be yourself- that is beauty!
3. You are loved.
Whether you hear it from your girlfriends, your mom, or when you read the Bible, you know somebody loves you. Having people that love you even while you are still learning to love yourself is the biggest blessing. No matter what you may think, there is someone out there who is thinking about you and who loves you more than you know.
4. Your situation does not define you.
From an abusive household to an eating disorder, what you are going through should not affect your self-worth. You are strong just for waking up in the morning and facing your situation. I have often told myself that the reason I go through hardships is that I am not worth happiness. This is NOT true. These situations are there as lessons for you to learn to become wiser. You are a strong woman who can make it through anything.
5. You are being prayed for.
Whether you know it or not, somebody is praying for you. You are worth the world and people see that. I pray every night that young women, just like me, find their confidence.
I have always struggled with self-esteem issues. From being self-conscious about my curvy figure to developing a self-hatred before I had jaw surgery to fix an underbite, it has not always been easy. But, that's the thing. If everything was easy, we would never learn from our situations. Through being bullied and torn down, I can see the beauty in everyone I meet.
Having a curvy figure makes you beautiful. Having a slim figure makes you beautiful. Being shy is beautiful. Being outgoing is beautiful. Being sexually active does not make you a slut. Keeping your body private until marriage does not make you a prude. Your sexuality does not change how beautiful you are. Your race makes you unique, and being unique is so beautiful. You may not see it now, and you may not ever see it, but even the smallest things, like the way you smile or the way you play with your hair makes you who you are. And that is beautiful.
So, no matter how hard life gets and how much you wish you could just be somebody else, know that you are beautiful. It takes time, but, you deserve to love yourself.
